Read More

It was towed away from its berth in Canning Dock, next to the Strand, after a row over unpaid mooring fees.

The ship has been advertised for sale for £100,000 and Friday, December 16 was originally the deadline for bids.

In a statement released to Merseyside Civic Society, Chantelle Seaborn waterway manager at the Trust said: “It’s a real shame that we were left with no choice but to move Planet Bar Lightship from the docks.

“It was a difficult decision that had to be made after many attempts to resolve a number of issues with the owner. These included serious health and safety breaches as well as non-payment of berthing fees.

“The ship is currently for sale and we’d welcome interest from someone in the City who could come forward to purchase and resore the boat and manage her properly in the future. We’re grateful for the publicity to encourage interest in the boat.

“The intention is to find a new owner for the boat by the end of next March.”

The departure of Mersey Bar Lightship vessel Planet from Liverpool as she is towed away from Canning Dock. Pictured protest by Alan Roberts.

Read More

Last week Liverpool Riverside MP Louise Ellman pledged she would make “strong representations” to the Canal & River Trust and said she was “deeply concerned” about the sale.

Today she said she was continuing to talk to the Trust – and wanted to see the ship back in Liverpool, “where she belongs!”

Over 1,200 people have now signed a petition started by Liverpool planner and historian Jonathan Brown, which calls for the Trust to reverse its “calamitous decision” to remove the ship from Liverpool.

He said: “I welcome this, but while the ship is outside the Mersey bar we can’t be too complacent.

“It shows how public feeling, properly expressed through papers, petitions and MPs, can hopefully make an impact.“

He said the onus was now on the Trust, with the help of campaigners, to find a sustainable business plan and work with a local buyer.

The departure of Mersey Bar Lightship vessel Planet from Liverpool as she is towed away from Canning Dock. Photo by Colin Lane

On Monday the ECHO understands an application by the lightship’s last owner Alan Roberts for an interim injunction to stop the sale of the ship was refused.

Although he has now paid a disputed £10,000 bill for mooring fees, the Trust says he still owes further unpaid fees and removal and storage costs.

It had pledged the ship would not be scrapped, but said it would be sold to recover the money.

Although the Planet was being used as a cafe bar, the Trust said it had not held a licence to be in the dock or to trade since January 2015.